Spa 2-17 Rathmore 2-11
Spa and Rathmore met in this year's O'Sullivan Cup East Kerry Junior Championship Final, played on Friday evening in Fitzgerald Stadium. This is the fourth time that Spa have won this competition (1994, 1997, 2016, 2019).
Cian Tobin pointed a free to open the scoring, and shortly after David Spillane buried the ball in the Rathmore net. They added two more points from Niall McCarthy and Cian Tobin to jump into an early 1-3 to 0-0 lead. Rathmore, however, replied with an unanswered six points to draw level, the scores from Darragh Rahilly, John Hickey (3), Michael Anthony Kelleher and Jimmie O'Mahony. Spa had a penalty shot at the end of the first quarter, but keeper Sean O'Riordan had a great save and the ball came back into play before the Rathmore defence cleared their line.
Niall McCarthy, David Spillane (2) and Shane Fenton all scored to put Spa in front again before Darragh Rahilly and Cian Tobin swapped points, A late goal for Spa, again from David Spillane, gave us a half time lead of 2-8 to 0-7.
Michael Anthony Kelleher (3) and Darragh Rahilly exchanged points with Niall McCarthy (2) and Gary Vaughan to make it 2-11 to 0-11 at the end of the third quarter. Gary Vaughan added another before Niall McCarthy landed a massive free from 60 yards. Two more Spa points, from Gary Vaughan and Niall McCarthy, extended their advantage before Ciaran Spillane got dangerously close to the Rathmore goal line, but O'Riordan pulled off another great save.
Dan Murphy added a point for Rathmore but late scores from Cian Tobin and Paul Cahill increased the Spa lead. Rathmore did have a penalty call late in the game and John Hickey's shot bounced off the crossbar and he netted the rebound. Final score, Spa 2-17 Rathmore 2-11.
After the game, Con O'Sullivan was on hand to present the O'Sullivan Cup to Spa captain Brian Devane, with his mother Kathleen presenting the Man of the Match Award to Niall McCarthy.
Spa: James Devane, Brian Devane, Eoghan Cronin, Paudie O'Donoghue, Eoin Fitzgerald, Shane Lynch, Hugh O'Donoghue, Ciaran Spillane, Andy Fitzgerald, Gary Vaughan, Niall McCarthy, Shane Fenton, Mikey Moynihan, David Spillane, Cian Tobin. Subs: Eoin Cronin, Paul Cahill, Conor Kerins, Thomas Fleming, Brian Lynch, Conor Stack
Rathmore: Sean O'Riordan, Donal Óg Kelliher, Thomas Holohan, Cian Jenkins, Timmy Doherty, Tadgh Moyniham, Tommy Sheehan, John Hickey, Michael O'Mahony, Daniel O'Sullivan, Darragh Rahilly, Jimmie O'Mahony, Michael Anthony Kelleher, Jack Reen, Dan Murphy. Subs: David Dineen, Trevor Cremin, Padraig O'Mahony, Mike Riordan, Darragh Desmond, Bryan Crowley
Referee: Tom Moriarty (Legion)
Photos: Anne Holland
